WordPrompt April 2022: GREEN
One very green patch on our hillside consists of thriving plants called the West Indian Woodnettle (Laportea aestuans).
These plants are also called West Indian Nettle and Stinging Nettle.
They are known to be annual shrubs, African medicinal plants, and vegetables to be used in soups. In some places, however, they are considered to be weeds.
The West Indian Woodnettle with its inflorescences of densely clustered flowers is also considered to be an unpleasantly stinging plant.
The stem of the plant is fleshy but slightly woody at the base. The leaves which are green above, paler greyish green beneath have stinging hairs on both surfaces. As a matter of fact, the whole plant is densely covered with stinging hairs.
Caution:
Please note that the leaves of the West Indian Woodnettle contain irritant calcium oxalate crystals which can cause urticaria (hives). Contact with these stinging hairs will cause pain and blisters.
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Main Sources
tropical.theferns.info/… Laportea+aestuans
zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/…
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Suz and Tell 